A Piece of Home

Assuming that it was going to be a wet day (I really need to stop listening to weather forecasts here!), I headed out to Westfield London on this lovely sunny day.

Which was good thing because the place was very quiet. I have missed mall shopping since being in the UK and there is a lot to be said for being able to do all your shopping under one roof. High Street shopping was a novelty for me when I first arrived and after battling Oxford Street on one-too-many manic Sunday afternoons, being back in familiar surrounds was a treat.

Although the shops are different, I could have been at any Westfield back home, and that is something I need right now. Not that I have had too much homesickness, but just little things have set me off lately. It started about 2 weeks ago when my skype connection cut out in the middle of calling home for my niece's 11th birthday, then one night this week, while cooking sausages I discovered that simple tongs are just something that the greater British public does not seem to feel a need for. See? Little things.

But that seems to have passed now and I'm sure it will hit me again later on. Just one of the "joys" of being an expat, I guess.

It was nice to be out of suburbia too. I feel like I have been stuck here the last couple of weeks, up to my elbows in baked beans on toast, school runs, birthday parties and play-dates.

I feel much refreshed after my little piece of home today (I wish I had some Tim Tams, though!) and may just head back into the city tomorrow. Must remember to check TFL for travel updates and line closures after I foolishly jumped on my usual bus today, without checking online first, and found my line closed...on a Saturday! I made it eventually, after a very long bus trip, and if that's the worst that happens to me on public transport in London, I figure I'm doing OK.

Cherry Cola Splits

I'm just enjoying the peace and quiet of 5.30pm...something that almost NEVER happens! And it's all thanks to a playdate. You've gotta love 'em!

I have the afternoon off and on a typical day, this is usually the noisiest time of day (a.k.a Supper Time), so I am enjoying it while it lasts.

This week did not have the best start, but that was all self-inflicted thanks to the Superbowl and my lack of sleep as a result, so I have no one to blame but myself. I can, however blame my youngest charge who this week decided to share his runny nose, cough and sore throat with me AGAIN. Such a generous little lad!

Today was probably the most eventful day. After arriving half an hour early for the school pick up, I decided to walk around to the shops down the road from the school and treat myself to a Diet Coke (woo-hoo...I am the last of the big-spenders!), something I haven't had for a while now. As I had the youngest with me, I must have been very distracted when I chose what I thought was a Diet Coke, paid for it, opened it up to take a swig...only to then discover that it was indeed Diet Coke, but with a truly horrible cherry flavour! Who makes this stuff? And more to the point, why?? Note to self: always read the labels!

Then, to cap off the day, I split my jeans getting out of the car! True, they are so old and I knew it was going to happen soon, but still, I could have done without it after the whole cherry coke fiasco.

But the good news is, it's pay day tomorrow and I can go and buy a brand new pair!